Container closure structure

ABSTRACT

A closure structure for a container formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard comprising opposed pairs of main and side panels hingedly connected to form a tube including a first closure flap connected along a line of fold of one of the main panels and having V-shaped panels therein defined by score lines commencing near the line of fold and diverging toward the distal edge thereof. Intermediate closure flaps are each joined along a fold line to a correlative side panel, and are foldable into position overlapping the first closure flap, and a fourth closure flap is connected along a line of fold to the other of the main panels and is likewise foldable into closing position, the fourth closure flap having converging sides and having a distal portion adapted to enter beneath the V-shaped panel of the first closure flap.

United States Patent [1 1 Faires et a1.

[ 1 Nov. 6, 1973 CONTAINER CLOSURE STRUCTURE [22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 243,247

Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead [57] ABSTRACT A closure structure for a container formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard comprising opposed pairs of main and side panels hingedly connected to form a tube including a first closure flap connected along a line of fold of one of the main panels and having V-shaped panels therein defined by score lines commencing near the line of fold and diverging toward the distal edge thereof. Intermediate closure flaps are each joined along a fold line to a correlative side panel, and are foldable into position overlapping the first closure flap, and a fourth closure flap is connected along a line of fold to the other of the main panels and is likewise foldable into closing position, the fourth closure flap having converging sides and having a distal portion adapted to enter beneath the V-shaped panel of the first closure flap.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHUY s 1975 CONTAINER CLOSURE STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention herein relates to that form of closure referred to as a Howland lock top and has particular reference to a structure whereby the lock top may readily be separated for removal of the contents of the container. The Prior Art The prior art is best exemplified in the following patents developed in a novelty search: to Acker U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,965, July 26, 1955 to Himes U.S. Pat. No. 2,327,709, Aug. 24, 1943 to Gardner, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 2,337,039, Dec. 21, 1943 to Ethridge U.S. Pat. No. 1,808,772, June 9, 1931.

The structure according to the present invention constitutes an improvement over the cited patents in that one of the closure flaps is provided with a V-shaped panel therein facilitating both the closing and the opening of the container.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container having the closure structure according to the present invention embodied therein;

by a pair of diverging score lines 27, these originating at a common point in the center of the flap 24 at the fold line 25. The diverging score lines 27 extend to ends of a rectangular shaped cut-out 28 in the distal portion of first closure flap 24.

The closure flap 24 is folded into position in the plane defined by the fold line 25, and intermediate closure flaps 29, 29 are folded'into the same plane along the fold lines 25 connecting same to the end panels 12. The intermediate closure flaps 29 are so configured as to maintain the V-shaped panel 26 uncovered as seen clearly in FIGS. 1 and 4 particularly.

The top closure of the container is completing by a fourth closure flap 31 having converging sides and generally of a trapezoidal shape. Flap 31 is foldably connected to its correlative main panel 11 along a fold line 25. Fourth closure panel 31 has a distal portion ja'dapted to enter beneath the first closure flap 24 and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like forming the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the structure seen in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a step in the forming of a top closure therefor; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a further step for forming the top closure.

The improved closure structure according to the present invention is embodied in a container denoted generally by the reference numeral 10 and formed from a cut and scored blank 10A seen in FIG. 2. Blank 10A includes a pair of opposed main panels 11 which alternate with opposed end panels 12, panels 11 and 12 being foldably connected to each other along fold lines 13. Glue flap 14 is connected by a fold line 16 to one of the main panels 11 and is adapted to be glued or otherwise secured to one of the opposed end panels to provide a tube of rectangular cross section.

Container 10 includes a bottom closure structure comprised of flaps 17, 19, 19 and 21, these being connected to respective main or end panels, as the case may be, along a common line of fold 18. The first bottom closure panel 17 is adapted to be folded into position into a plane containing the fold line 18; and intermediate flaps 19, 19 are folded into position thereover, the closure being completed by a second closure panel 21. First closure flap 17 has a rectangular cut-out portion 22, and a rectangular tab 23, the second closure flap 21 is adapted to enter under flap 17, all in a manner well known in the prior art.

The closure structure according to the present invention includes a first closure flap 24 connected to one of the main panels 11 along a fold line 25. A V-panel 26 is provided in the mid portions of flap 24 and is defined between the score lines 27 defining the V-shaped panel In effecting the closing of the container 10, the V panel 26 may be flexed slightly out of the plane of the first closure flap 24, as seen more particularly in FIG.

:5. Such flexing of the V panel 26 enables the distal portion 32 of the second closure flap to enter between the score lines 27 readily.

We claim:

1. In a closure structure for a container formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like:

a. opposed pairs of main and side panels hingedly connected to form a tube of rectangular transverse cross section;

b. a first closure flap connected along a line of fold to one of said main panels and foldable to position in the plane defined by one end of said tube;

c. said first closure flap having a V-shaped panel therein defined by score lines commencing near said line of fold and diverging toward the ends of a rectangular shaped cut-out in the distal edge thereof;

d. a pair of intermediate closure flaps each joined along a fold line to a correlative side panel and foldable into position overlapping said first closure p;

e. each of said intermediate closure flaps being so configured as to maintain said V-shaped panel uncovered;

f. a fourth closure flap connected along a fold line to the other of said main panels and foldable to closing position;

g. said fourth closure flap having converging side edges and having a distal portion adapted to enter beneath said first closure flap between the V- shaped panel thereof;

h. said V-shaped panel being capable of being flexed out of the plane of said first closure flap to facilitate entrance of the distal portion of the fourth closure flap. 

1. In a closure structure for a container formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like: a. opposed pairs of main and side panels hingedly connected to form a tube of rectangular transverse cross section; b. a first closure flap connected along a line of fold to one of said main panels and foldable to position in the plane defined by one end of said tube; c. said first closure flap having a V-shaped panel therein defined by score lines commencing near said line of fold and diverging toward the ends of a rectangular shaped cut-out in the distal edge thereof; d. a pair of intermediate closure flaps each joined along a fold line to a correlative side panel and foldable into position overlapping said first closure flap; e. each of said intermediate closure flaps being so configured as to maintain said V-shaped panel uncovered; f. a fourth closure flap connected along a fold line to the other of said main panels and foldable to closing position; g. said fourth closure flap having converging side edges and having a distal portion adapted to enter beneath said first closure flap between the V-shaped panel thereof; h. said V-shaped panel being capable of being flexed out of the plane of said first closure flap to facilitate entrance of the distal portion of the fourth closure flap. 